Imphal, December 13: The Assembly today decided to constitute a House Committee to probe the numerous cases of fraudulent withdrawal of GPF from different Government Departments.

A seven member team with Dr M Nara as the Chairman has been constituted.

The decision to constitute the House Committee and probe the matter was taken after MPP MLA Dr Nimaichand Luwang raised a call attention motion during the evening session of the Assembly with regard to the fraudulent withdrawal of GPF of many employees.

As per a suggestion of MLA Dr M Nara, the members of the Committee include Y Erabot, N Nilachandra, Dr Nimaichand Luwang, M Bhorot, L Radhakishore, W Brajabidhu and Dr Nara himself.

Dr Nara had previously suggested that the Committee be headed by Works Minister Th Debendra and also to include Education Minister Francis Ngajokpa in the Committee.

This was however vetoed by Dr Nimaichand Luwang who observed that including Ministers in the Committee could delay the process of investigations as Ministers are busy with their work.

Speaker Dr Maniruddin Sheikh then suggested that Dr Nara lead the team which was accepted by the House.

Referring to news paper reports, Dr Nimaichand Luwang tabled the report carried by The Sangai Express in the September 14 issue which detailed how a non-employee of a Lilong school had siphoned off the GPF of three teachers amounting to Rs 2.17 lakh.

Another report carried by The Sangai Express which detailed the story of how GPF of 20 employees of Thoubal college amounting to Rs 30.53 lakhs was fraudulently withdrawn by forging the signatures of the Principal and Director was also referred to by Dr Nimaichand Luwang.

Another report referred to by the MLA in The Sangai Express included the withdrawal of Rs 19.25 lakhs for seven lecturers of Lilong Haoreibi College.

The MLA did not stop there but also went on to refer to another news report carried by the Poknapham, which said that the GPF of two teachers of Bishnupur district amounting to Rs 55 thousand were fraudulently withdrawn.

The fraudulent withdrawal of GPF money of the PWD and Veterinary were also placed before the Assembly by Dr Nimaichand Luwang.

Joining in the discussion, Education Minister Francis Ngajokpa expressed his heart felt anguish over the grime and dirt in his Department and urged the House to pull up the guilty and award them befitting punishment.

Detailing on the action taken up so far, Ngajokpa said that the Principal of Lilong Haoreibi College who also doubles up as the DDO has been suspended while some teachers have also been suspended.

FIRs have also been lodged with the police and the service of the Vigilance has been roped in, said the Minister.

Even though an understanding has been worked out between the employees in Bishnupur, directives have been issued not to let the matter close but to further investigate the case, added Ngajokpa.

The Minister further said that strict instructions have been issued not to entertain any bills not signed by the Education Director, except in the case of Sadar Hills.

This new measure was taken following an understanding reached with the AG, he informed the House.

Works Minister Th Debendra said that apart from the news report indicting the employees of Works Department, some new cases have also been unearthed and added that further probe will be taken up.

Chipping in Dr Nimaichand Luwang said that no two independent parties can work out an understanding over the theft of money.

Suspension is also not the answer, he asserted and added that to check such malpractices in all the Departments, a House Committee should be formed to get to the bottom of the matter.

Dr Luwang cited the example of the House Committee which was able to recover half of the Rs 14 crores which were fraudulently withdrawn as pensions for retired Head Pandits some time back and added that to earn the trust and confidence of the people, a House Committee should probe the GPF scams.

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